Pakistan on Thursday said it believed that intra-Afghan dialogue can play a key role in making the Afghan peace process “result-oriented”, as it was equally important for all stakeholders to play their significant roles.
Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal, while addressing the weekly media briefing, said Pakistan had been facilitating the Afghan peace process as a shared responsibility, but it had not been part of the final rounds of a dialogue between the United States (US) and Taliban in Doha. “There was no such thing as Doha Process,” he said. “[The] Ongoing [round of] talks between the US and the Taliban is a positive development, and Pakistan hopes that this will lead to durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.” He also stated that Pakistan would continue to work towards the peace process in good faith.
Faisal said Pakistan-India talks on Kartarpur Corridor covered technical-level discussions over its opertionalisation designs for hydrology, including passage of floodwater. He also said that the Evacuee Trust Property Board was all set to launch a special coin and postal stamp to commemorate the 550th birthday of Baba Guru Nanak.
To a question, he said authorities concerned were probing the Quetta blast and any involvement of external elements would be shared with the nation.
The spokesman said Pakistan had taken detailed measures to come out of the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Foreign Ministry has worked hard on the issue.
He said Indian occupation forces, during the so-called cordon-off and search operations in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) had martyred four Kashmiris – Shah Jahan Mir, Abid Hussain Wagay, 11th-grader Owais Ahmad Mir and a 13-year-old boy Sajjad Ahmad in Langate, Shopian and Poonch areas.
“We urge the international community to call upon India, by all possible means, to immediately halt human rights violations in IHK and seek their help in resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” Faisal said.
Responding to a question regarding rumours of Chinese nationals allegedly trafficking Pakistani women to China, he said the authorities concerned had investigated the matter but it was “mere propaganda” aimed at sabotaging the longstanding Pakistan-China relationship.
The spokesman said that on the invitation of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Prime Minister Imran Khan would pay his first official visit to Iran on April 21.
“The visit will include a brief stop-over in Mashhad before arriving in Tehran for bilateral talks with the Iranian leadership,” he said. “The prime minister will call on Iranian Supreme Leader Syed Ali Khamenei, besides holding detailed consultations with President Rouhani.”
Faisal said Imran would also visit China later this month from April 25 to 28, on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the 2nd Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.
To another question regarding Masood Azhar, he said, “We have a very clear stance about Masood Azhar”. “Whatever decision is made, it will be in the best national interest and not under any foreign pressure,” the spokesman said.
He expressed grief over the death of a Pakistani tourist who was visiting Turkey and lost his life in a tragic accident in Fethiye. “Rescuers have retrieved his body, which is being transferred to Istanbul and preparations are underway to repatriate it to Islamabad on Friday, depending on flight availability,” Faisal said.
